Communication devices and method of communication

ABSTRACT

In a portable communications device, information provided by an identification means is used to establish communication between communication means and a second device, such as a point of sale machine, to ensure that the correct portable communications device is connected to the second device where there may be a large number of second devices and a large number of portable communications devices in close proximity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, claims priority to and thebenefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/848,515, filed on 3 May 2001,status allowed, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to communication devices and a method ofcommunication. In particular, but not exclusively, the present inventionrelates to wireless communications devices and a method of wirelesscommunications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been proposed to use mobile stations instead of credit cards at apoint of sale. In this proposal, it has been suggested that a wirelesslink be established between the point of sale device and the mobilestation. The mobile station may provide the point of sale device withsimilar information to that provided by a credit card.

One problem with this proposal is how to ensure that the correct mobilestation is connected to the point of sale device. For example, in a busysupermarket, there may be a large number of point of sale devices and alarge number of mobile stations. It is important that the right point ofsale device be connected to the right mobile station. Clearly,considerable problems would be caused if the wrong mobile station wasconnected to the wrong point of sale device. The user of a mobilestation could be charged for goods not purchased by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to address theabove problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aportable communications device comprising communication means forcommunicating with a another party, and identification means forseparately providing information on said device, said another partybeing arranged to obtain said information from said identification meansand to use said information to establish communication with saidcommunication means.

The identification means may comprise a bar code, a radio frequency tagor a magnetic data carrying arrangement. The bar code may be arranged onthe exterior of the communications device or may be displayed on adisplay of the communications device. The magnetic data carryingarrangement may comprise a magnetic strip.

The information provided by said identification means may comprise oneor more of the following: identity of the device; address of the devicewhen the communication means are used and identity of the user.

The third party may be one of the following devices: point of saledevice; ticket sale device; and information kiosk.

The link with the another party may be a wireless link. The wirelesslink may be a high frequency link, for example of the order of gigaHertz. The wireless link may be a Bluetooth link. Alternatively, thewireless link may be an infra red link. The communications device ispreferably a mobile telephone.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda communications device comprising communication means for communicatingwith a portable party, and identification means for separately providinginformation on said device, said portable party being arranged to obtainsaid information from said identification means and to use saidinformation to establish communication with said communication means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of establishing a communications connection between a portablecommunications device and another party, said method comprising one ofsaid another party and said portable communications device obtaininginformation from the other of said another party and said portablecommunications device; and using said information to separatelyestablish communications between said another party and saidcommunications device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention and as to how thesame may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way ofexample only to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a typical cellular telecommunications network;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the mobile station of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of a mobile station which can be used inthe arrangement of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a mobile station which can be usedin the arrangement of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of a mobile station which can be used inthe arrangement of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of a mobile station which can be usedin the arrangement of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows a typical cellulartelecommunications network. The area covered by the network 2 is dividedinto a plurality of cells 4. Each cell 4 is served by a base transceiverstation 6. Each base transceiver station 6 is arranged to communicatewith mobile stations 8 in the cell associated with that base transceiverstation 6.

The cellular network 2 can use any suitable method of communication.Known methods of communication include those based on time divisionmultiple access, frequency division multiple access and spread spectrumtechniques such as code division multiple access. Hybrids of two or moreof these access techniques can also be used. In the followingdescription, the mobile station is described as operating in accordancewith the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System) standard, which usescode division multiple access. However, the mobile station can operatein accordance with any other suitable standard, for example GSM (GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications). GSM uses a tirne/frequency divisionmultiple access technique.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 2 which shows a block diagram of anembodiment of the present invention. Shown in FIG. 2 is a service accesspoint 10. The service access point, as will be discussed in more detaillate, may be a point of sale device, a ticket gate, an information kioskor any other suitable service access point. The service access point canbe a communication device. The communication device providing theservice access point may be arranged to communicate with entities otherthan the closest mobile station using wired or wireless technologies.Alternatively the communication device may be arranged to communicateonly with the closest mobile station. The service access point may befixed or mobile.

The service access point 10 has an antenna 12. The antenna 12 isarranged to receive signals from a mobile station. The received signalsare passed to a wireless link 14. The wireless link processes thereceived signals and puts the received data into a format which can beused by the main part 16 of the service access point. The wireless linkmay convert the received signal to a base band frequency and may carryout decoding and demodulation, as is well known.

The antenna 12 is also arranged to transmit signals to a mobile station.The wireless link 14 receives the data to be transmitted and puts itinto a format suitable for transmission. The wireless link 14 may upconvert the signals, encode and modulate the data before passing it tothe antenna 12 for transmission.

The service access point 10 also comprises a reader 18. The reader 18 isarranged to read information provided by a mobile station 8. This willbe described in more detail hereinafter. FIG. 2 illustrates howembodiments of the invention are able to overcome the difficultiesdescribed earlier. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, four mobilestations 8 a-d are provided. Each of these four mobile stations isreasonably close to the service access point. In the embodiment of theinvention, it is desired to establish a connection between the firstmobile station 8 a and the service access point. It is extremelydisadvantageous if, by mistake, a connection were to be established withany of the other three mobile stations 8 b to 8 d.

The structure of the mobile station 8 is shown in FIG. 3. The mobilestation 8 has a first antenna 20 and a second antenna 22. The firstantenna 20 is connected to a UMTS transceiver 24. The UMTS transceiver24 is arranged to receive signals from the antenna 20 at a UMTSfrequency. The UMTS transceiver 24 decodes the signals, demodulates themand also reduces them to the base band frequency. The output of the UMTStransceiver 24 thus consists of a stream of data. That stream of datamay require further processing by the processor 26.

The UMTS transceiver also receives data from the processor 26 which isto be transmitted by the mobile station. The UMTS transceiver 24encodes, modulates and up converts the signal to the radio frequencywhich is to be used. The radio frequency signal is then transmitted bythe antenna 20.

The second antenna 22 is connected to a Bluetooth transceiver. Bluetoothis a proposed new standard that uses relatively low power radiofrequency signals. The frequency may be in the GHz range. This is quitedifferent to the UMTS frequencies. For this reason, separate antennas 20and 22 are usually provided for the two different types of signal. TheBluetooth transceiver 28 receives Bluetooth frequency signals from thesecond antenna 22 and decodes, demodulates and down converts thosesignals. The data output by the Bluetooth transceiver 28 is input to theprocessor 26. The processor 26 is also arranged to provide data to theBluetooth transceiver 28 which is to be transmitted by the Bluetoothantenna 22. This data is up converted to the Bluetooth frequency,modulated and encoded before being transmitted by the second antenna 22.

The mobile station 8 also has a display 30. The display is controlled bythe processor 26 and provides information for the user. A keypad 32 isprovided to allow the user to input numbers and other information. Theinformation input via the keypad 32 is input to the processor 26 whichmay be controlled in accordance with the input information. The mobilestation has a speaker 34. This is controlled by the processor 26 andoutputs audio signals which can be heard by the user. A microphone 36 isprovided to pick up the user's voice. The microphone signals are inputto the processor 26 which converts the signals into a format suitablefor output to the UMTS transceiver 24.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the mobile station is provided with some formof identification. When the mobile station is moved close to the reader18, the identification of the mobile station 8 is read. The informationincluded in the identification is sufficient to allow a Bluetoothconnection to be established between the service access point 10 and themobile station 8 a. The reader has a very short range and is thus onlyable to obtain the necessary information from the mobile station 8 awhen the mobile station is very close to the reader 18. The reader 18would not be able to read the identification information included onmobile stations 8 b to 8 d. This means that it can be ensured that theconnection to the right mobile station is established.

The information included in the identification can include any suitableinformation to allow the connection to be established. In preferredembodiments of the present invention, the identification includes aunique device address for the mobile station. This is effectively theBluetooth address of the mobile station. This identity can be regardedas being similar to the telephone number of the mobile station. However,the UMTS telephone number will be different from the Bluetooth address.It is the Bluetooth number that is included in the identificationinformation.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 4 to 7, which show various examplesof how the identity information can be provided. Reference is first madeto FIG. 4 which shows a first mobile station 100. The mobile station 100is as shown in FIG. 3 and additionally comprises a bar code 102. The barcode 102 is provided on the outer surface of the casing. In thearrangement shown in FIG. 4, the bar code is provided on the front ofthe mobile station 100, below the key pad 32 which in turn is below thedisplay 30. However, the bar code 102 can be provided on any othersuitable part of the casing. For example, the bar code may be providedon the back of the device or along any one of the four sides. The barcode may even be provided along the side of the antenna.

The reader 18 would, in this case, be a bar code reader and would readthe bar code 102. The bar code reader 18 would be able to read theunique address contained in the bar code 102. Using that information,the service access point 10 is able to establish a connection with theBluetooth transceiver 28 of the mobile station.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5 which shows a mobile station 104 whichis modified as compared to the mobile station of FIG. 4. Theidentification takes the form of a bar code 102 which is displayed onthe display 30. The reader 18 again would be a bar code reader and wouldread the bar code on the display 30.

This latter arrangement has the advantage in that the address of themobile station can easily be changed without having to replace a barcode on the external cover of the mobile station.

Reference is made to FIG. 6 which shows an alternative mobile station106 embodying the present invention. The identification is provided by aradio frequency tag 108. These tags are well known and generallycomprise an integrated circuit surrounded by an antenna element. Theintegrated circuit includes the identity of the mobile station and inparticular, its Bluetooth address. The integrated circuit comprises atransponder chip. The reader 18 provides a radio frequency interrogationsignal. The frequency of the interrogation signal is selected so that itdoes not interfere with either the Bluetooth frequencies or the UMTSfrequencies. The interrogation signal produces a magnetic flux fieldthat is magnetically coupled to the antenna to energise the latter andto provide power for the transponder integrated circuit. Accordingly, nobattery or power supply is required for the radio frequency tag. Whenthe antenna has been energised, the transponder circuitry assembles anidentification code signal which includes the Bluetooth address of themobile station. This signal is fed to the antenna which causes theantenna to transmit an information signal which is received by thereader 18. The reader is thus able to obtain the required information.

It should be appreciated that any alternative embodiment of the radiofrequency tag can be used in alternative embodiments of the presentinvention. The radio frequency tag can be incorporated on an exteriorsurface of the mobile station. However, in preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, the radio frequency tag can be provided inside thecasing as the reader will be able to interrogate the tag through thecasing.

Reference is made to FIG. 7 which shows a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention. The mobile station 114 is provided with a magneticstrip 116. The reader 18 is thus arranged to read the magnetic strip. Itshould be appreciated that in alternative embodiments of the presentinvention, the information can be carried by other forms of magneticcarrier.

In the embodiments of the invention described, the identification isprovided on the mobile station. However, it is possible in certainembodiments of the present invention, that the reading apparatus beprovided on the mobile station and the identification be provided at theservice access point. In the latter case, communications would beestablished by the mobile station. In the embodiments described earlier,the communication between the Bluetooth transceiver of the mobilestation and the service access point is initiated by the service accesspoint.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedas using a Bluetooth link. However, it should be appreciated that anyother suitable radio frequency can be used. For example, infraredfrequencies may be used. Preferred embodiments of the present inventionuse a short range connection between the mobile station and the serviceaccess point. However, this may not be required in certain embodimentsof the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention have a number of differentapplications. In one embodiment, the mobile station is used to make atransaction with and effectively acts as a credit card, a debit card oran electronic purse. Credit card information for money transfer is doneusing the Bluetooth connection link which is established between theservice access point and the mobile station.

Embodiments of the present invention can for example be used at ticketgates. The mobile station includes a ticket to go to a film, concert,sports match or the like. The Bluetooth connection is establishedbetween the mobile station and the ticket gate using the identificationinformation. The confirmation of the ticket details are then provided tothe ticket gate from the mobile station via the Bluetooth link.

Embodiments of the invention can be used to obtain information from aninformation station. The ink is established and the information isexchanged using the Bluetooth connection. For example, the user canobtain train times etc from the information kiosk.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the mobilestation can be used to communicate with an automatic teller machine ATMto complete financial operations such as the loading of cash to anelectronic purse, the withdrawal of cash or the like. The securecommunication link between the station and the ATM is established withthe ATM reading the address of the mobile station from its bar code orthe like.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the mobile station may bearranged to act sole as a credit card or the like. In that case the UMTScircuitry can be omitted. The mobile station may thus include only theBluetooth related circuitry. The display, keypad, speaker and/ormicrophone may therefore be omitted.

The described embodiments of the present invention have described atechnique for establishing a connection between a service access pointand a mobile station, It should be appreciated that embodiments of thepresent invention may be used to provide communication between any twoor more communication devices. For example, embodiments of the presentinvention can be used to establish a connection between two or moremobile stations.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the mobilestation may be replaced by any suitable communication device. It shouldbe appreciated that in some embodiments of the invention, thecommunication capabilities of the communication device and/or theservice access point may be very limited. In alternative embodiments ofthe present invention, the communication capabilities of thecommunication device and/or the service access point may be moreextensive.

1. A portable communications device comprising communication means forcommunicating with a another party, and identification means forseparately providing information on said device, said another partybeing arranged to obtain said information from said identification meansand to use said information to establish communication with saidcommunication means.
 2. A portable communications device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said identification means comprises a bar code.
 3. Aportable communications device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the barcode is arranged on the exterior of the communications device.
 4. Aportable communications device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the barcode is arranged to be displayed on a display of the communicationsdevice.
 5. A portable communications device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said identification means comprises a radio frequency tag.
 6. Aportable communications device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saididentification means comprises a magnetic data carrying arrangement. 7.A portable communications device as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidmagnetic data carrying arrangement comprises a magnetic strip.
 8. Aportable communications device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidinformation provided by said identification means comprises one or moreof the following: identity of the device; address of the device when thecommunication means are used; and identity of the user.
 9. A portablecommunications device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said another partyis one of the following devices: point of sale device; ticket gatedevice; and information kiosk.
 10. A portable communications device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said link with said third party is awireless link.
 11. A portable communications device as claimed in claim10, wherein said wireless link is a high frequency link.
 12. A portablecommunications device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said highfrequency link is of the order of giga Hertz.
 13. A portablecommunications device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said wireless linkis a Bluetooth link.
 14. A portable communications device as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the wireless link is an infrared link.
 15. A portablecommunications device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communicationsdevice is a mobile telephone.
 16. A communications device comprisingcommunication means for communicating with a portable party, andidentification means for separately providing information on saiddevice, said portable party being arranged to obtain said informationfrom said identification means and to use said information to establishcommunication with said communication means.
 17. A method ofestablishing a communications connection between a portablecommunications device and another party, said method comprising: one ofsaid another party and said portable communications device obtaininginformation from the other of said another party and said portablecommunications device; and using said information to separatelyestablish communications between said another party and saidcommunications device.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein saidanother party comprises a portable communications device.
 19. A methodas claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one of said another party andsaid portable communications device comprises a mobile telephone.